The Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence by Eugene C. Roehlkepartain & Pamela Ebstyne King & Linda Wagener & Peter L. Benson

Author:Eugene C. Roehlkepartain & Pamela Ebstyne King & Linda Wagener & Peter L. Benson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780761930785
Publisher: Sage Publisher
Published: 2005-08-03T16:00:00+00:00

SDT AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

* * *

Self-determination theory is a broad theory that treats the person as a whole being, and provides a foundation for researchers intent on developing a comprehensive theory of religious and spiritual development. Insofar as spiritual development is a search for “connectedness, meaning, purpose, and contribution” (Benson, Roehlkepartain, & Rude, 2003, pp. 206–207), it is clearly a search for integration in which one’s thoughts, motivations, and actions are pointed toward self-transcendence. A religious or spiritual outlook on life can provide one with an overarching theme or goal that helps to unify the person’s entire self. A person also strives for relatedness and integration of the self with others. In addition to a sense of relatedness with parents and other loved ones, integration with others might also include unity with a higher being such as God (i.e., relatedness to God) or the sacred.

It is within this framework of SDT that we will approach the relationship of spiritual development and personality. A spirituality that promotes autonomy and relatedness with others and with God will facilitate the development of an integrated and authentic self. A child’s or adolescent’s own motivation for engaging in religious and spiritual practices may also influence the youth’s positive spiritual development (Kneezel & Ryan, 2004; Strahan & Craig, 1995).

Motivation for behaving in certain ways is not easily differentiated into autonomous or controlled motivation. Intrinsic motivation, although the most preferred type of autonomous motivation, becomes increasingly rare as children develop. With the commencement of school and other responsibilities, children have to meet the demands of parents, teachers, peers, and even of themselves, and many of the behaviors associated with different demands may not be intrinsically motivated. For example, not many children intrinsically want to do math homework after school; instead, they may prefer to play with their friends or engage in other enjoyable activities. However, extrinsically motivated actions, beliefs, and values can become internalized and integrated into the self. SDT distinguishes between four types of internalization, shown in Table 19.1 as a continuum from non-self-determined to more self-determined regulations.

Introjection and identification, two of the types of internalization, are of interest to the study of spirituality in developing persons. Introjected internalization is an internally controlling state in which a person performs a behavior to attain social approval and to avoid anxiety and the loss of self-esteem (Deci & Ryan, 1985). Introjection is associated with poorer psychological adjustment than is a higher form of internalization, identification, which occurs when a person feels that his or her beliefs and behaviors are important and personally chosen. Therefore, this type of internalization is felt to be more self-determined and is associated with better psychological adjustment (Grolnick & Ryan, 1989; Vallerand & Bissonnette, 1992). Psychological adjustment is indicative of personality development: A self that is fragmented will experience more negative symptoms than a more unified self. An individual who acts in accord with his self is acting authentically and genuinely, and this type of behavior leads to better psychological adjustment, including a feeling of vitality and happiness (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.